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A Prayer in Carolina

By on 1.16.12 @ 6:09AM

Santorum brings a positive message of faith to the Palmetto State.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Political ads are now running almost constantly during the commercial breaks on TV here, and most of them are attack ads. Mitt Romney’s “super PAC” Restore Our Future is attacking Newt Gingrich and Gingrich’s “super PAC” Winning Our Future is attacking Romney. And, as if to validate his newfound status as a contender for the Republican presidential nomination, Rick Santorum is now being attacked in TV ads, one by Ron Paul’s campaign and another by Romney’s “super PAC.”

Asked about one of those ads during a town-hall event in Florence on Sunday, Santorum struggled to find words for the pro-Romney PAC’s ad, which accuses him of wanting to extend voting rights to felons. “That is a lie,” the former Pennsylvania senator said at Percy & Willie’s restaurant. “To go and mislead the people of South Carolina as to what our record is on this is just… yuck. I expect that from Barack Obama. I don’t expect it from a Republican running for president.”

Santorum’s own ads are relentlessly positive. One of his ads running here features images of Santorum with his wife and seven children and calls him “a trusted conservative who gives us the best chance to take back America.” Even the ads from the pro-Santorum “super PAC” (the Red, White & Blue Fund) are positive, portraying him as “a principled conservative” who is “determined and will never waiver.” That ad features footage of Santorum’s speech on the night of the Iowa caucuses, in which he said, “What wins in America are bold ideas, sharp contrasts, and a plan that includes everyone… a plan that says we will work together to get America to work.”

Santorum is not afraid to draw “sharp contrasts” with Obama. During his speech Sunday morning at the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s prayer breakfast here, he spoke of America’s transformational influence in the world: “We’re the wealthiest country in the world and the world is wealthier because they have become more like us. We’ve transformed humankind. And we have a president who sees all of that as a mistake.” In a speech that highlighted themes of faith and American exceptionalism, Santorum told the audience of more than 350 at the Sheraton Convention Center, “People ask, ‘How are you going to unite us together?’ Remind every American who we are. This president reminds us of what divides us, not what unites us.”

His ambition of uniting Americans, however, is dependent upon Santorum’s ability to unite conservatives behind his campaign. That ambition got a boost over the weekend when a group of evangelical leaders meeting in Texas voted to endorse him. Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council said it was a “strong consensus” in Santorum’s favor and, while some wondered whether the endorsement might be too late in the campaign to help, Perkins said it “could be exactly the right time,” given the influence of social conservatives in South Carolina.

That influence was apparent during the Sunday afternoon town-hall event in Florence, where the crowd inside the restaurant applauded when Santorum said, “America is a moral enterprise, not an economic enterprise.” And they applauded again when Santorum took aim at Obama, saying the way the president is “constantly pitting one group against another” is “disgusting.”

Most polls currently show Santorum in third place in South Carolina, but his campaign believes they will finish strong here, as they did with their phenomenal last-minute surge in Iowa. “We are on fire,” former congressman Gresham Barrett, Santorum’s state campaign chairman, said while introducing the candidate in Florence. Santorum will have two chances to add fuel to that fire this week, with televised debates tonight in Myrtle Beach (9 p.m., Fox News) and Thursday in Charleston (8 p.m., CNN). And the debate stage will be slightly less crowded, because former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman will reportedly drop out of the presidential race today and endorse Romney.

Many pundits saw that development as further evidence of Romney’s “inevitability,” but Santorum clearly believes that South Carolinians are willing to ignore the pundits who have discounted his chances of scoring an upset victory here. “Vote your conscience. Vote your values,” he told the people crowded inside the restaurant in Florence. “Stand up and fight for what you know is right.”

About the Author

Robert Stacy McCain is co-author (with Lynn Vincent) of Donkey Cons: Sex, Crime, and Corruption in the Democratic Party (Nelson Current). He blogs at The Other McCain.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (73) |

Clint| 1.16.12 @ 6:29AM

Big Government Ricky Santorum's Record On Voting For Earmarks, Even The Bridge To Nowhere, His Support For The Lobbyist "K-Street Project" , His Tariff Votes, Medicare Prescription Drugs, No Child Left Behind,Etc. Is Gonna Sink Him With Tea Party Patriots.

Social Conservatives Won't Be Able To Carry Santorum ,The Big Government Statist.

The Tea Party Rebellion Is In South Carolina.

Jack in Wi.| 1.16.12 @ 7:08AM

Santorum, Gingrich, Huntsman, Perry are just spliting the conservative vote so Romney will be the nominee. Huntsman just got out, after doing the job he has supposed to do, split the libertarian vote in New Hampshire. It is time to get this contest down to the only 2 guys who are tied head to head with Obama Dr. Ron Paul and Mitt the Mormon. They both are tied head to head vs Obama. The reason Dr. Paul would do better is that he gets by far more votes from disaffected Democrats, young people and Independents. He is against these wars, the Fed, and huge deficits. So is the vast majority of the public. All the rest are more of the same.

Santorum and Gingrich are disgraces to us Catholic's and prolifers. Pushing for endless, agressive war is a crime against International Law and Catholic Just War Doctrine. Germans were hung for doing what these 2 chicken hawks are calling for.

Lawrence Boccardi| 1.16.12 @ 7:19AM

I was just thinking, it is folks like you two, that make Ron Paul worriesome, and unacceptable to me.

Deborah D| 1.16.12 @ 8:30AM

Yes, Lawrence, it's Paul's supporters who seem a bit scary to me too.

Con Chef (NB) | 1.16.12 @ 9:00AM

These 2 fools are good for about $45k worth of free anti Paul advertising every time they hit the "submit" button. Which is kind of ironic, since them & their candidate would seem to want to "submit" to Islam as well.

Clint| 1.16.12 @ 7:16PM

"S.C. Sen. Tom Davis – the leading fiscal conservative in South Carolina state government and one of the most coveted endorsements of the 2012 “First in the South” presidential primary – will announce his support for U.S. Rep. Ron Paul on Sunday.

Davis will endorse Paul’s candidacy at a campaign event Sunday evening in Myrtle Beach, S.C. – confirming a report published earlier this week on Buzzfeed."

The Tea Party Rebellion Steps On The Israel Firster Smear Bund Ass Clown, Con Job.

Occam's Tool| 1.16.12 @ 2:02PM

Dear Lawrence:

Well put. In addition, Catholics (the plural) is not spelled as Jack did so. It's the overpowering funk of cheese.

The problem with paul is his naive foreign policy coupled with the fact that he deliberately attracts turdballs like the two above.

Clint| 1.16.12 @ 7:20PM

Tool Job Is The Israel Firster RINO-CINO Smear Bund Ass Clown,Who Said He'll Vote For The RINO-CINO Frontman, Mittens Romney.

We Are Being Set Up By The Israel Firster RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges For The Ruling Elites' Frontman Mittens Romney.

These Are The Israel Firster RINO-CINO Flunkie Stooges Who Gave Us The Serial Traitor To Conservatism, John McCain Of McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy,McCain-Lieberman,Gang Of 14, Opposing Bush Tax Cuts Of 2001 & 2003,TARP.

Now They Are Trying To Give Us RomneyCare,TARP, Cynical Flip-Flops On Abortion, Gays, Refuses to Sign Pro-Life Pledge, Illegal Immigrants, "Little Chain Saw Al" At Bain, Crony Capitalism Campaign Money Trail.....

The Tea Party Rebellion Is In South Carolina.

Adjoran| 1.17.12 @ 1:44AM

I'm pretty sure you'd be escorted out of any Tea Party rally in South Carolina.

Mike Rogers | 1.16.12 @ 8:36AM

Every morning, as reliable as the sunrise, the odd couple post their joint rants on behalf of Ron Paul.
Just as he claims to have no knowledge of what went into his newsletter, which he advertised as being his own, Ron Paul will try to plausibly deny the fervent nonsense spouted by his "supporters" if he should be lucky enough to win the nomination.
If Ron Paul wins the nomination, I will support him compared to Obama - can you two say the same thing about other Republicans, or would you rather have total tyranny if your man cannot win?

Mike Hawk| 1.16.12 @ 8:57AM

There is no real Clint. I have concluded Clint is the name of a computer program at Paulbot central that robo-posts the articles selected by it's programmers. They are experienced spammers.

irish19| 1.16.12 @ 12:28PM

I have asked that same question of them several times. So far, I don't recall either has answered-an answer in itself.
BTW, love the "odd couple" moniker for the pair of them.

Con Chef (NB) | 1.16.12 @ 10:07AM

Since when does the United States conduct warfare according to what the Vatican thinks? Idiot.

Margie| 1.16.12 @ 6:07PM

It doesn't.
Not do Christians conduct their beliefs to any other of the cult's false teachings, fool.

Dai Alanye | 1.16.12 @ 11:08AM

Each post by Clint and Jack loses votes for Ron Paul, and it's my contention that Clint is in fact a covert anti-Paul agent of influence. A mole, in other words.

Or maybe a groundhog, since he's from the home of Punxsatawney Phil. A goofy gopher burrowing underground to weaken the foundations of the Paul campaign.

Con Chef (NB) | 1.16.12 @ 11:17AM

Don't DARE compare Phil to Clint. At least Phil knows how to throw a party, sans Torah burnings.

Occam's Tool| 1.16.12 @ 2:03PM

Indeed, Phil does.

Clint| 1.16.12 @ 7:24PM

Compare The Little Israel Firster Neo-Chickenhawk Con Job To Jonathan Pollard.

The Tea Party Rebellion Steps On The Jonathan Pollard Wannabe, Con Job.

Appleby| 1.16.12 @ 11:11AM

Hanged. Not hung.

Buck O| 1.16.12 @ 10:24AM

Here's a convenient list of big gubmint Ron Paul's 2011 earmarks for comparison:

http://www.freerepublic.com/fo.....1103/posts

Appleby| 1.16.12 @ 6:54AM

Isn't there anybody else out there who can actually do this job?

Isn't there anything else going on anywhere in the world besides this election?

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.16.12 @ 7:25AM

Santorum and Gingrich both have the same problem.

They were both prominent players in the U.S. Congress when the housing problem was created, endorsed and expanded until it destroyed the U.S. economy.

The public has had enough of failed leadership.

That's all Santorum and Gingrich have to offer.

Dai Alanye | 1.16.12 @ 11:19AM

The mortgage crisis is entirely owned by the Dems -- initiated by Carter, expanded by Clinton, assisted by agencies staffed with Clinton rejects and various Dem slugs, supported and defended by the likes of Dodd, Frank, Schumer, Waters and other leftists.

You'd be hard-pressed to find many Republicans who supported non-conforming mortgages, especially in it's latter stages when neither Gingrich nor Santorum were in Congress anyway. It's an amazing stretch to go after Santorum on this issue, and a plainly dishonest one.

William R| 1.16.12 @ 8:28AM

Murderers for Jesus

Rick Santorum

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/m.....jesus.html

Con Chef (NB) | 1.16.12 @ 9:03AM

Ah, so covert action against a state sponsor of terror who's pursuing a nuke is now "murder." You people are so f-ing stupid & haven't the FIRST idea of how such operations are conducted.

Yet by THIS idiotic blog piece you have posted, you'd think that Santorum is the 2nd coming of Torquemada. Spare us.

Buck O| 1.16.12 @ 10:25AM

For whom does your messiah commit "murder?"

Dai Alanye | 1.16.12 @ 11:24AM

You can tell a lot about a man by his enemies, and Santorum merely gains in respect by comparison with some of his near-psychotic critics.

Occam's Tool| 1.16.12 @ 2:04PM

Like I've said, I'm voting for him when the campaign comes to MN if he's still in it. Quite frankly, I think Mitt is going to name him VEEP if he wins.

Vern Crisler | 1.16.12 @ 3:02PM

Unfortunately, Santorum's quest for the presidency is quixotic. He has no experience as a leader, not much more than Obama had, and we see what happens when an inexperienced individual gets into office.

I like what Santorum says, but he should have run for a lower office first and obtained governing experience before trying to tackle a job like the US presidency.

Con Chef (NB) | 1.16.12 @ 4:22PM

Not asking to be snide, but wouldn't his time in the House & Senate qualify him more than Obama, who spent his only Senate term running for President?

Christopher C| 1.16.12 @ 3:37PM

With you, Dai.

Al Adab| 1.16.12 @ 8:29AM

Perfection may indeed be the enemy of success. We are doing such a wonderful job of vetting our candidates that the DEMs must be thrilled. We kill our own wounded and damage the chances of ultimate success.

Several states, SC and FL among them, are critical to election prospects in November. The electoral votes of those along with VA and Ohio will decide the matter. Which candidate can deliver those this fall?

Mike Rogers | 1.16.12 @ 8:37AM

The weak will be killed, and the wounded will be eaten by the Democrats.

W| 1.16.12 @ 11:45AM

Al Adab
We are going over the top in the attacks this year.

In the 1988 primary Algore first brought up the Willie Horton furlough, and then it was used in the elbection by Bush41. So bringing it up in the primary did not make it old news or teach Dukakis how to handle it.

Bush41 used the vodoo economics charge against Regan, but the Newt/Perry charges against Romney for Bain are the worst because they fit perfectly with the left wing Dem attacks on capitalism and free markets. To say it is an attack on Romney and not the free markets makes no sense.
Pats v. Frisco in the Super Bowl?

Al Adab| 1.16.12 @ 12:11PM

W:
Looks like the matchup. However, our track record is not so good and, as they say, that's why they play the game. I hope our political prognosticating is better than our NFL record.

Christopher C| 1.16.12 @ 3:44PM

What about Pats versus the Giants? The 49ers could be vulnerable, after all - their inability to score touchdowns was season-long. Hence the kicker's new records for field goals. And they didn't look as if they'd turned things around against the Saints - the Saints had to hand them the game with turnovers. Ravens? Well, they didn't fare at all well agains the Texans defence. While the Pats won't inhibit Flacco and the purple and black folks quite as much, Mr Bradshaw should be able to connect with his receivers enough to force the Ravens to play catch up from early in the game. So, a re-run of Super Bowl whatever-it-was? Pats v Giants?

W| 1.16.12 @ 4:14PM

Mr. Bradshaw? Has Terry made a comeback? Are you a Steeler fan,Christopher?

Pats have the smartest coach, Belichek, and best quarterback,Brady.

Occam's Tool| 1.16.12 @ 2:06PM

If I were Romney, I'd be putting Staples and The Sports Authority employees on. Bain did a LOT more good than harm.

W| 1.16.12 @ 5:47PM

I believe Bain was also involved with Dunkin Donuts and the Guitar Company. Should be simple to add the number of employees with these companies to show the number of jobs created, not to mention the multiplier effect that these jobs created other jobs with suppliers, delivery people, manufacturers, etc.

Aleck| 1.16.12 @ 9:04AM

Is not Santorum's positive message, "Let's do more of what we did in the Bush years, because that turned out so well"? Of course, he doesn't say it this way, but then, neither did George Bush. And these so-called "evangelical leaders" tell us to swallow the same bait again and again and again. Haven't they learned anything over the years? I hope my fellow evangelicals will heed the Lord Jesus when he says, "if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit"
(Mt 15:14), and think for themselves instead of making the same mistakes over and over and over.

Crassus| 1.16.12 @ 9:54AM

Another day. More drivel by the RuPaul turds.

Quartermaster| 1.16.12 @ 11:01AM

We have a choice between Neocons and Paul. What a choice.

Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin.

Con Chef (NB) | 1.16.12 @ 11:20AM

Don't you mean a normal candidate & a neo Chamberlain, David Duke lauding, Bradley Manning lauding, Stormfront supported perpetual candidate with no legislation to his name?

Gee, I wonder who I'll choose.

Occam's Tool| 1.16.12 @ 2:07PM

QM: yes, and the Lord of Hosts will blot out Paul's campaign. He, as his followers are, is Amalek.

Patrick| 1.16.12 @ 3:05PM

That doesn't explain how Carter won in '76.

Appleby| 1.16.12 @ 11:13AM

I don't ever want to hear anything else about Ron Paul as long as I live.

Con Chef (NB) | 1.16.12 @ 11:18AM

The virus of Paulism is like herpes. You have it forever. Like luggage, as Eddie Murphy said.

C Smith| 1.16.12 @ 11:20AM

The Family Research Council (FRC), a pseudo Christian lobbying organization formed by James Dobson with the propensity to support cults, this election switched from Mormon to Roman:

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2008
The End Justifies the Means Theology
Many wonder why James Dobson has not endorsed Huckabee. Is there a more unwavering pro-life candidate? Is there another who has been “born again”? Have any, under spiritual conviction and contrary to political consensus, withdrawn a news release that would have justifiably reproved an opponent?

Many find it perplexing. Even the secular world is finding something amiss. Time magazine, in a recent article of remarkable spiritual perceptiveness, was stunned by Dobson’s reluctance to make “the natural Christian right choice.”
For months, Dobson has [seemed to favor] … [Mormon] Mitt Romney over Baptist preacher Mike Huckabee … the natural Christian right choice. In December, Dr. Dobson praised a Romney speech, as ‘a magnificent reminder of the role religious faith must play in government and public policy. His delivery was passionate and his message inspirational.’ Dobson even made a congratulatory phone call to the candidate.
When Romney lost the Iowa caucuses to Huckabee, Dobson attributed the outcome to ‘conservative Christians,’ but he has not warmed to the former governor…. who has spoken of his great and longtime friendship with the Dobsons, [wondering] … why no endorsement appears to be coming…. In … [Dobson’s] citizenlink.com assessments, Huckabee was found wanting in terms of foreign policy and ‘fiscal’ issues…. Romney, on the other hand, was praised as ‘solidly conservative’ and unlikely to renege on that stance.

The question remains: WHY no endorsement? And the answer appears to be Dobson’s “The End Justifies the Means” theology. The “End,” reconciling the lost to the Lord is commendable, but the “Means” are much less so. In order to save the world, Dobson has become more like it. He seems to have honed the political arts of alliance, compromise, and concession far better than the discipline of unwavering Spirit lead conviction. All things considered, perhaps Dobson HAS given Huckabee the endorsement he needed.

Dai Alanye | 1.16.12 @ 11:39AM

James Dobson's "failure" to support Huckabee might have been based on the Huckster's deep dishonesty. Too many are prone to fall for Elmer Gantry-type candidates, assuming that because a man is a minister of the Gospel and mouths platitudes that his heart is pure.

Huckabee, like certain other governors, destroyed the computers used by his administration in Arkansas. He tried to take state-owned furnishings with him on the way out of the door. He and his wife set up registries at various stores so they could receive "gifts" from supporters after he left office. And, of course, he lied about many of his actions, probably including his dramatic weight loss.

On the other hand, perhaps Dobson disagreed with the Huckster's policies, which were far less conservative than Huck would have us believe. Or perhaps it was the man's remarkably large ego, still in evidence on his Fox show.

As to why Dobson chose to endorse Romney I cannot say, but perhaps he felt (as I did) that Romney surely couldn't be worse than McCain, whose most valuable contribution to the conservative movement has proven to be picking Sarah as his VP.

Al Adab| 1.16.12 @ 12:14PM

Sadly, It is quite possible that Romney is, in fact, worse than McCain. We turned him down four years ago in favor of the "more conservative" McCain.I don't see any reason to reward him now. His opposition to the Conservative Movement is lifelong.

Patrick| 1.16.12 @ 3:23PM

Oh quit your bellyaching!

Mike Huckabee was and is a loathsome creature, who managed to be more corrupt, more spendthrift than Democrat Bill Clinton. This alone is worth seeing him never in office again.

Add on top of that any thug, any criminal that claimed to "be saved" was given pardon by the nitwit. He was as much a jackass as Haley Barbour.

Just because a man becomes a Baptist preacher means absolutely nothing as to whether he is a good or Godly man. For a supposed "Bible Christian" you have obviously forgotten to read about Judas Iscariot.

Margie| 1.16.12 @ 4:41PM

"Time magazine, in a recent article of remarkable spiritual perceptiveness, was stunned by Dobson’s reluctance to make “the natural Christian right choice.”

TIME MAGAZINE?

TIME MAGAZINE says?? Ha!

Since when does Time Magazine (liars) have the authority to judge Christians??

"The natural Christian choice"??

HUCKABEE??

Very funny.. pathetic, actually!

James Dobson is a Bible believing Christian. He goes according to his godly conscience in discerning who to vote for.

And that is based on reality, not Religion.

David| 1.16.12 @ 11:26AM

Some of you are real morons. It was republicans who warned over and over again not to force banks to make bad loans so people could buy houses they could not afford. It's too bad Americans have such short memories of history - you know, what actually happened in the past.

Go Santorum!!!

David| 1.16.12 @ 11:46AM

Hey folks, this is information on Santorum from RedState. It was published on January 6, 2012.

I keep telling everyone to get behind Santorum now - support him with five bucks. Forget Perry and Huntsman and Gingrich and Paul. Santorum can win - and win as a conservative.

The following is From RedState.

Here are his ratings from when he was in Congress:

American Conservative Union — 88%
National Right to Life Committee — 100%
Americans for Tax Reform — 95%
National Tax Limitation Committee — 92%
U.S. Chamber of Commerce — 88%
League of Private Property Voters — 94%

Now remember, this is Santorum’s House ratings, in a DEMOCRAT district. How many Republicans in Democrat areas vote this conservative? Kirk? Snowe? That’s conviction! Santorum is NOT a ‘big government conservative’ but an across-the-board mainstream conservative with a solidly conservative voting record, albeit marred with the support for earmarks and some spending bills that many Republicans in Bush eara fell prey to.

Yet another source that looks at Santorum’s record is Jen Rubin, who likewise absolves Santorum of the phony claim that he is a big-government conservative:

“While in Iowa, Texas Gov. Rick Perry tried to begin a line of attack on Rick Santorum claiming that the former Pennsylvania senator is a big-government conservative. That attack seems poorly thought through (shocking, I know from such a meticulous campaign) for several reasons.

First, Santorum is to the right of Perry in some important ways. Santorum opposed the Troubled Assets Relief Program; Perry wrote a letter on the day of the Senate vote urging Congress to pass legislation to avert a meltdown. Santorum, as we saw in the debates, is likewise to the right of Perry (and Newt Gingrich, for that matter) on immigration.

Indeed, Santorum’s supposed deviations from conservative orthodoxy are similar those of his rivals. He voted for earmarks and highway funds. Gov. Perry took the money. Santorum voted for Medicare Part D; Gingrich lobbied for it, and Perry said in a debate that he wouldn’t repeal it.”

“And finally, Santorum has put together an aggressive spending reduction plan. He’s for the balanced-budget amendment. He’s embraced Rep. Paul Ryan’s Medicare reform plan. He’s in favor of Social Security reform, against energy subsidies, for privatizing Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and in favor of repealing Obamacare. The guy is no liberal when it comes to spending taxpayer money. Is he to the right of Gingrich? Yes. To the left of Ron Paul? Yes. But so are most GOP voters.”

Where Santorum deviated from the conservative line, like his vote on NAFTA and his support for earmarks, he was doing the exceptional thing, and those deviations were in most cases catering to his constituents. But UNLIKE most Northeast Republicans, that ‘catering’ did not extend to abandoning conservative principles again and again. They’ve been the exception to the rule that Congressman and Senator Rick Santorum held. With his support for lower taxes, prolife and profamily policies, conservative Judges, for balanced budgets and entitlement reform, against McCain-Feingold, for school choice, against TARP and Frank-Dodd. Rick Santorum has had a solid and mostly consistent conservative voting record.

Santorum further has a solid and conservative agenda for President. Romney timidly talks of getting spending maybe down to 20% of GDP. Rick Santorum fully supports the Republican balanced budget amendment that caps spending at 18% of GDP. He wants lower tax rates for all, going to a 10%/28% two tier tax rate and lowering corporate tax rates.

While Gingrich criticized the Ryan roadmap, Santorum embraced it. Newt supported Medicare Part D, supported at one time healthcare mandates, and supported all the Bush programs that conservatives object to in Santorum’s voting record. Romney has gone further of course, embracing not just TARP, but healthcare mandates and failing to even fully criticize the Obama stimulus spending. Only Gingrich or Santorum will wage a campaign that fully challenges Obama’s whole agenda and actually works to repeal it. Newt has pegged Mitt Romney rightly as a Massachusetts moderate, but Newt is not without flys in his ointment either, from global warming to embracing Hillary, Pelosi and Al Sharpton (!) at various times in attempts to ‘reach across’ bipartisanly.

The bottom line is that between Newt, Santorum, and Romney .. Santorum is the one who is most fiscally conservative and who will have the most fiscally conservative administration as President.

Both Newt and Santorum are conservative. Just not perfect conservatives. For those who say that Santorum is not a ‘true conservative’, I would argue simply that if an 85% ACU rating and leadership on conservative issues in Congress for almost 2 decades is not enough, you will NEVER find a ‘true conservative’ in the Presidential field.

For the rest of us without that fine a filter, yes, Rick Santorum is a ‘true conservative’. Conservatives will be happy with his SCOTUS picks, his support of our military, his support for life, his tax reform and entitlement reforms, his pro-energy policies, his economic growth agenda, his fiscally responsible budgets, and his appeal to get America working again.

Occam's Tool| 1.16.12 @ 2:08PM

I hope Santorum finishes second or better in SC. That will vitalize his campaign.

Seek| 1.16.12 @ 4:46PM

All true. But how did Santorum manage to lose his re-election bid for U.S. senator in 2006 by a staggering 59%-41% margin? Even a lot of his fellow Republicans must have crossed over to the other side.

Anthony| 1.16.12 @ 1:11PM

Wait just a second Mr. McCain. Who are you attempting to fool here?
Don't you know no conservative runs positive messages? It's all hate and racism 24/7? That's why the great conservative John Huntman, heir to Ronald Reagan, was taken down.
Joe Scarborough tells us so!! I bet Reid Collins believes MSLSD's clueless Joe.

Who Knows?| 1.16.12 @ 2:49PM

What was it that Herm Edwards famously declared, with righteous passion---“You play the game to WIN!”

Since the GOP can either WIN or LOSE the election for president in November, and Herm was right, that means Obama must LOSE!

Keep It Simple Stupid---KISS.

As the days dwindle down to a more and more crucial few, it’s pretty obvious to me that for most Republican voters the desperate focus will be on Obama---he MUST lose! Does anyone think his team can do much to make him look GOOD, given all he has ALREADY done to ruin this country---and that he will surely do in the future?

Romney, Cromney, Flipomney---truth is stranger than fiction, indeed, so “Out damned spot!” will definitely be the call to arms, ‘er vote! When you’re standing on a cliff edge, and one guy is promising to grab your arm and pull you to safety, and the other is gleefully, ACTIVELY pushing you off, well---who you going to believe, your lying eyes or the double talking Obama?

Talk about a pincer movement! We could be in for a classic doozy of an election, as both sides tries to convince, persuade or con voters for their guy.

The GOP should focus on the NO Obama, with a bland and/or moderately acceptable YES Romney campaign. Simultaneously, of course, the evil one in the White house will have to accentuate the NO Romney points, since there are few YES Obama results---except for his base, maybe.

So, the GOP will also have to counter all the Obama crap, which should be done with mocking humor, IMHO. There should be a whole lot of “I feel sorry for X” statements, when X tries to make arguments for Obama and against Romney---or Santorum.

What is THE DEFINING characteristic of Obama, et al?

SORRY! He is epitomized by the statement, “I’m sorry for Z”, which is the essence of his serial apologies. He only THINKS he’s apologizing for putative American sins, but in reality, by scraping and bowing down to our enemies, it is HE who is acting and BEING the SORRY asshole!

He is a totally SORRY excuse for an American, let alone a president!

Yes, we can---undress Obama!

If the GOP can’t manage to spread the truth about Obama, in the next vital ten months, and convince a majority of voters that he has to go, well---down the drain America could go. Has there EVER been such a disaster, right in our collective face, as BHO---NO, NEVER!

I say, let him have it---both with a TRUTHFUL negative barrage of ads about him, and a positive one as full of verifiable TRUTH about Romney, as well.

Simply put—Obama must go, for the sake of America’s future viability as a free country.

“This shall not stand!”

Translation---Obama MUST FALL!

Kingofthenet| 1.16.12 @ 6:53PM

I can SMELL the fear...Your tears come November will be delicious.

Redstateboy| 1.16.12 @ 4:04PM

is it just me or does Rick Santorum resemble Jerry Seinfeld in the above photo.

Tina B| 1.16.12 @ 6:21PM

No he doesn't, Jerry looks smugger. If Santorum looked like Clarence the Cross-eyed Lion I would still go door to door to support him, and will in Florida if they want me to. Go Santorum!

patroness| 1.16.12 @ 6:00PM

Time to buy a vest:)

Tina B| 1.16.12 @ 6:21PM

Do you mean bulletproof??

bill| 1.16.12 @ 6:57PM

I was in vacation and am back.

Rick Santorum voted for
-NCLB
-Bridge to nowhere
-VOTED AGAINST "Right to Work" bill
-voted for unfunded Medicare Prescription Drug
-VOTED AGAINST free trade

Santroum is a "Big governemnt RINO," and cannot win in SC.

bill| 1.16.12 @ 7:00PM

SC Primary Results:

Winner : Rick Perry
2nd: Newt Gingrich
3rd: Mitt "MA Moderate RINO" Romney
4th: Ron Paul
5th: Rick "RINO" Santorum

Casualty: Santorum will end his campaign. It"ll be a 4 men race: Perry, Gingrich, Romney, and Paul.

David| 1.16.12 @ 7:03PM

bill, get your f_cking facts straight, and start telling the whole story. With your BS about Perry starting "right to work" in Texas and other BS, you are proving yourself to be an uninformed moron.

bill| 1.16.12 @ 8:08PM

David,

Be nice. It's just politic, baby.

You're a f_cking liberal, I know that your "baby" Obama about to lose, and You don't like Rick Perry because you're a moron like those liberals.

Wise up. Stop alcohol!

David| 1.16.12 @ 7:08PM

Seek, as many folks here have pointed out about his loss in PA: The entire republican congress was in shambles. They had the majority in Congress and screwed up their opportunity. The entire electorate was furious with them, including republicans, and moreso conservatives, because of the opportunity they squandered. That coupled with his support of Specter over Toomey (even though he rationally explained it) doomed him. Remember, PA dems outnumber repubs by a huge margin.

bill| 1.16.12 @ 8:10PM

In the same year, Rick Perry became the governor of TX ( a state with over 25 million people and 47% minority) for the 2nd time.
Santorum lose because he is a "big government RINO." Look at the NH Primary, he is at the 4th place, tied with Gingrich.

Shame on Santorum!

rhortus| 1.16.12 @ 8:52PM

It should be UN-constitutional for a North-Eastern Ivy League brat to run as a Republican. ;)

POST American| 1.16.12 @ 9:16PM

---------------------FINAL WORD-----------------------

Santorum appears to be the bottom rung
of NEO-CON-job male cheerleaders.

For the hard of thinking---

the Globalist RED China world TREASON
OP is finishing us off

"Authoritarian RED China is to be
the Globalst model ---and soon to
be brought in as 'world enforcer'."

The US Constitution itself, the very soul
of the republic, has been effectively
overturned with the passage of NADD
1031.

Secret arrests, 'disappearance', torture,
exile, stripping of citizenship and even
execution are now authorized.

"---When your time comes,
WHAT WILL YOU DO-----?"
-'Ikiru'
Akira Kurosawa
(1952)

---------SELLOUT

-------------TREASON

-----------------EUGENICS

----------the DESTRUCTION of all that was---------

'Ordo ob K-----OZ'

Their words.

NOW ----WHAT WILL YOU DO?

---------------------------------------------WHAT?

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